Monday, December 17, 2012

Understanding Asperger's and How YOU Can Help

This is not going to be a very popular post and honestly, I don't care.

When I first heard that Adam Lanza had Asperger's, my heart sank.  Fear filled my body and my thoughts rushed, "What can I do to prevent this from happening to my son?"

Christopher has a horrible anger and rage problem, but he has the biggest heart of any child I have seen before.  Well, that is not true, he has the same generous heart as my Kayla and Kaitlyn.  They bless me over and over when they are more concerned for a homeless person than for themselves, or for a child that won't have, or for an animal on the streets.

While I don't have an answer to that initial question, and to keep fear from rising within me every time I see a picture of one of the babies or a story of Adam Lanza, I pray for my son. I put my hand or hands on him, whichever is available, and I pray.  Let your children hear you pray over them!

I am making a point to make sure Christopher understands the difference between good and evil and how satan can take a simple problem and make it huge.  God has opened the door for me to talk more about Christopher's anger with him since the shooting.  Last night he cried because he didn't understand evil and how rage, when used in a bad way is sin.

I have made it a point to not read much about the children and the shootings.  My heart is breaking and I can't.  However, this morning, I saw an article on Fox10 News that EVERY ONE needs to be read.

Parents, it is YOUR job to educate YOUR CHILDREN about children and adults with special needs!

When you see them teasing or laughing, it is YOUR JOB to stop it!  If you do not stop it, you are just as guilty as the child.

We must educate ourselves on Asperger's.

These kids aren't freaks.  

They are just a little different, in a gifted way, but they are also different in a way that "normal" people will never get.

Why you ask?  I'll be glad to tell you.

1.  They don't judge others for the way they look.

2.  They don't de-friend someone because they react differently.

3.  They don't talk about others in a negative way.

4.  They love unconditionally.

5.  They don't care what you wear (or what they wear for that point! lol)

6.  They don't care if your body does weird things when you are nervous.

7.  They don't criticize a child that is rocking back and forth.

The list could go on, but the point is, these children are the least critical, yet they are picked on the most.

Why you ask?  I'll be glad to tell you.

1.  Because they look just a "little" bit different.

2.  They react differently to new situations or change in schedules.

3.  They are the ones getting talked about and teased.

4.  They are not loved unconditionally.

5.  They usually hate to wear clothes and when they do, they probably don't match.

6.  They have weird body movement called tics.

7.  They rock back and forth or side to side when nervous.

I am not making an excuse for what Adam Lanza did, by no means.

It is horrible and he will be held accountable unto God for each of the lives he took.  We can not allow people to use their disorders or disabilities as an excuse to sin!

I'm just saying, as the mother of a child with Asperger's, Tourettes, OCD/Sensory/Anxiety Disorders, that does get made fun of, I can understand his pain and THAT breaks my heart as well.

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